PHOTO COURTESY OF BANICE BAZAR
Movie: mms://www.pearls.com/BronzeStar
For
his heroism in the Korean War, 2nd Lt. Banice Bazar, far right, yesterday
received his Bronze Star Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean
Service Medal with three bronze stars, and the U.N. Service Medal.
CRANSTON — When Banice Bazar and 14 of his relatives sat down to lunch yesterday at Antonio’s in Cranston, a few of his children began to gush over their father, describing his heroics in the Korean War.
Bazar, 78, and his family had just come back from Sen. Jack Reed’s office, where Bazar had received a Bronze Star Medal for his work from September to November in 1952.
Yet the Cranston resident, sitting at the head of the table with his wife Beverly at his side, remained largely silent.
Though Bazar always kept a few pictures from his Army days and answered questions about his Korean War experiences, he was never the type of person who would extensively describe his military exploits.
“It’s the past — I only worry about the present and the future,” he said.
And there’s already plenty in the present and future to concern him — he’s the CEO of the East Providence-based Bazar Group Inc., a jewelry business, and he’s very involved in the lives of his family, which includes 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
But yesterday, Bazar’s past was the center of attention as he received his medal, along with the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars, and the United Nations Service Medal.
Bazar knew about the honors for years but never received the actual award until yesterday.
Fourteen family members turned out for the event, including his four grown children. Yet out of such a large family, few knew the specifics of his heroics during the Korean War.
“He
never really talked about it a lot,” son Peter Bazar said.
The only time Peter heard his father discuss those experiences occurred when the two traveled to Korea for a business trip. Overcome with nostalgia, Bazar started talking about the war with the cabdriver.
“He would pass by a bridge and say, ‘See that bridge? I fought to save that bridge and it’s still up today,’ ” Bazar said. “All of a sudden, he was telling stories about when he landed and his greeting to Korea.”
Bazar was deployed to Seoul in 1952, just a few years after the Rhode Island native graduated from the University of Rhode Island in the ROTC program. He had just been married to his childhood sweetheart, Beverly.
Bazar’s reaction to his deployment, as a 23-year-old second lieutenant plunged into war, was predictable: “I was scared,” he said.
In the 2nd Platoon of the 388th Chemical Smoke Generator Company, there were 25 men. He can still remember fellow soldiers dying while on duty, but he hates dwelling on those stories.
“Some didn’t come back, but I didn’t keep score,” he said.
His mission in Korea included making a smoke screen for an area called the Spruce Tree Valley, through which Army traffic would pass, even under enemy observation.
He executed his mission so well that his commanding officer took notice and nominated him for honors.
“Whenever trouble arose as a result of incoming rounds, he was immediately present to console his men and maintain the mission regardless of personal danger involved,” the recommendation from Vincent C. Luca read.
Though honored to receive his award, it’s doubtful that Bazar will suddenly begin talking animatedly about his war experiences, even at his family’s insistence — the last thing he wants is all the attention.
“I don’t want everyone to make a big deal about it,” Bazar said.
East Providence
